Former RHC Director Alberto Maldonado Assumes New Position As Asst. Vice-Chancellor For Connections And Achievements Supervising 8 Affinity Centers At UW-Milwaukee

Maldonado was the director of the Roberto Hernández Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he assumes his new position as the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Connections and Achievements who will oversee 8 affinity centers at the university.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 6, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, Alberto Maldonado, 55, the former Director of the Roberto Hernández Center at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced that he started his new position at the urban university, which is Assistant Vice-Chancellor For Connections And Achievements within the Division of Student Affairs. According to Maldonado, he will provide strategy,  supervision, and support to 8 affinity centers, which includes the Black Student Cultural Center, First-Generation+ Resource Center, LGBTQ+ Resource Center, Military and Veterans Resource Center, Off-Campus Resource Center, Roberto Hernández Center, Southeast Asian American Student Center, and the Women’s Resource Center.

Maldonado has worked at UWM for 28 years and nearly 10 years at the Roberto Hernández Center. He became the official director of the RHC on November 8, 2018, in 2016, he became the interim director of the RHC, replacing Enrique Figueroa Ph.D. who resigned in August of that year after serving as a director since 2002.

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) attempted to contact Maldonado multiple times on Monday for comment, but was unsuccessful.

The affinity centers will be housed at a centralized Hub area in the ground floor of the Student Union building at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). The affinity groups are currently occupying offices at Bolton Hall, but are expected to move into the Student Union in the Fall of 2026.

UWM announced in January 2026, that it would consolidate 8 affinity centers into one student focused Hub Center in order to secure federal funding after Trump and the U.S. Department of Education engaged in their MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again) relentless racially motivated effort to end all related Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs, and had threatened to withhold federal funding from educational institutions who failed to comply and eliminate all related DEI programs. Although, multiple federal courts ruled Trump's executive order to eliminate DEI programs and threatening to withhold federal funding from educational institutions who did not comply with his order was illegal and unconstitutional. The U.S. Department of Education later confirmed that it wouldn’t appeal the federal court rulings declaring that eliminating DEI and its funding was unconstitutional because it infringed on the free speech rights of instructors in classrooms. Although, despite the federal court rulings, both the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) proceeded to eliminate their DEI related programs. MATC President Anthony Cruz decided to eliminate the Office of Multicultural Student Services and terminated 4 student service specialists serving  Latino/Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American and Native-American students in August 2025. The Offuce of Multicultural Student Services was replaced by the Office of Community Impact at MATC.

UWM also proceeded to merge the 8 affinity centers despite, federal court decisions that Trump's elimination of DEI related programs and threatening to withhold federal funding was illegal and unconstitutional.

When the 8 affinity centers moved into the Student Union Hub Center in the Fall of 2026, the affinity groups will gradually lose their identity structures and their known names as we know them today, and will eventually be phased out, according to allegations made UWM students who will be affected and say that they were never taken into consideration in the UWM decision resulting in the drastic and controversial change. UWM students and numerous student organizations opposed the controversial move by UWM Chancellor Dr. Thomas Gibson in creating the 8 affinity Student Union Hub Center.

The affinity centers services will also be restructured, according to UWM students.

The expected gradual facing out of the Roberto Hernández Center at UW-Milwaukee will be a major betrayal by UWM, which would definitely default and break the 1970's agreement between UWM and the Latino community to keep the RHC (formerly the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute) autonomous and independently functioning Center providing servives to inspiring Latino students and the community.

The legacy of the Roberto Hernández Center and its history:

The actual creation of the Spanish Speaking Outreach Institute (SSOI), which later became the Roberto Hernández Center at link: http://bit.ly/1hgQkaB

Historic video of the UWM 1970 Takeover and the creation of the SSOI, today the Roberto Hernández Center-UWM https://youtu.be/FzOpOxI_GKw

USDHS False Allegations About Salah Sarsour, 53, President Of The Islamic Society Of Milwaukee Who Was Arrested By USICE And US Marshals On Terrorism Allegations And Lying On Immigration Application

Sarsour was legally allowed to immigrate to the U.S., gained a permanent legal resident status and has lived more than 32 years in the country and has no criminal record in the U.S..

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 2, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Thursday, the MAGA (Make Amerikkka Great Again) U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) known to fabricated charges and has lied in multiple cases involving foreign nationals, U.S. legal status citizens and U.S. citizens is now saying that Salah Sarsour, 53, of Franklin, who is the President of the  Islamic Society of Milwaukee originally from Jordan had lied about his criminal history as a suspected terrorist when he was 15 in Jerusalem when applying for U.S. residency, according to a USDHS press release.

"Salah Salem Sarsour is a terrorist convicted for throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of Israeli armed forces. This illegal alien from Jordan lied on his green card application to gain legal status in the U.S.," said USDHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "Thanks to President Trump and ICE, this terrorist is out of American communities. This Administration will always put the safety of the American people FIRST and Make America Safe Again."

According to Bis, Sarsour is suspected of funding terror organizations and lying on immigration forms. 

USDHS claims that Sarsour had a prior conviction for throwing a molotov cocktail at the homes of Israeli Forces.

He lied on his immigration application and became a green card holder under President Clinton.

This terrorist will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, according to USDHS.

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) says, "When Salah Sarsour was a teen (he was born in the Israeli occupied West Bank and lived his entire childhood under an inhumane military occupation) he was seized by the occupying Israeli forces and, as a minor, subjected to Israeli brutality and torture, and eventually tried and sentenced on fraudulent charges by an Israeli military "court". When Mr. Sarsour came to the United States in September 1993, the U.S. government was aware of his record. During subsequent interactions with immigration officials in the U.S., all were aware of the (false) accusations made by the Israeli military occupation forces. The fact that the present "Israel first" U.S. government has chosen to target Mr. Sarsour after thirtytwo years in the United States is unconscionable and illegal. Had Mr. Sarsour not been targeted by Israel and its agents, he would likely be receiving accolades for his accomplishments. We are calling on the U.S. government to immediately release Mr. Sarsour, to uphold the first amendment rights of citizens and residents of the U.S. to criticize a foreign regime, to uphold U.S. values of freedom, fairness and the rule of law, (particularly human rights laws) and to place the interests of the U.S. and U.S. citizens and residents over the interests of a foreign regime. 

"Mr. Sarsour has been serving as the elected President of the ISM (a volunteer position) for the past five years. Mr. Sarsour has been a legal resident of the Milwaukee community for over thirty-two years. He is married and, with his wife of 34 years, they have raised six children in the Milwaukee area. His wife and all of his children are U.S. citizens (Mr. Sarsour is a lawful permanent resident) and all of his children are college graduates and are gainfully employed. Four of Mr. Sarsour's children are married, and he has nine grandchildren. Mr. Sarsour has also been a caretaker of his elderly and frail mother," the ISM says.

"This is a man who came to the United States and kind of lived the American dream," Othman Atta, executive director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said in a press conference at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. "And they are trying to tarnish his image. They’re trying to target him."

When Sarsour applied for a Green card (permanent residency) to live in the U.S., "The U.S. government fully vetted his visa application at that time," said Kathryn Brady, head of the Muslim Legal Fund of America’s Immigration Litigation Department during the press conference at the ISM.

When Sarsour was detained in Israel when he was 15, he was tortured for months and had been charged by the Israeli government of alleged terrorism. 

Sarsour eventually immigrated to the US in 1993 under the Clinton administration and was allowed to apply for a permanent residency card, which he received in 1998, despite prior allegations made by the Israeli government.

Sarsour was taken into custody after leaving his home by MAGA Gestapo USICE and the U.S. Marshals Service, according to USDHS.

Sarsour was taken to the USICE facility in Broadview, Illinois for processing and then transferred on March 30, 2026 to the Clay Detention Center (Clay Sheriff's Office) in Brazil, Indiana where he was booked at 8:52 p.m. for USICE immigration hold.

A legal defense fund has been created for Salah Sarsour at link: https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/salah_sarsour_justice_fund

Prior Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) article link: https://tinyurl.com/4b26dxpz

Salah Sarsour, President Of Islamic Society Of Milwaukee Arrested By MAGA Gestapo USICE In Wisconsin

MAGA USICE Gestapo agents arrested Sarsour after leaving his residence on Monday, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. Sarsour has been vocal against the Israel Zionist genocide of the Palestinian people including children in the Gaza.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

April 2, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Monday, at least 10 Make Amerikkka Great Again (MAGA) Gestapo U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) agents arrested Salah Sarsour, 53, the President of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee (ISM) after leaving his residence in Franklin. Sarsour's vehicle was stopped by USICE agents and he was taken into custody. Sarsour was taken to the USICE facility in Broadview, Illinois for processing and then transferred to the Clay Detention Center near Terra Huate, Indiana, according to the ISM. 

Sarsour has been a legal permanent resident in the U.S. for more than 32 years. He has been married for 34 years and has raised 6 children in Milwaukee County.

The USICE officials have not released any information why Sarsour was targeted and taken into custody, but the ISM says that attorneys have filed requests for his immediate release from USICE custody.

The following is the press release from the ISM, "On the morning of Monday March 30, agents of ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement) followed ISM President Salah Sarsour as he left his home, surrounded his vehicle, abducted him and placed him in ICE custody. Mr. Sarsour was subsequently transferred to the ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois and then to the Clay Detention Center near Terra Haute, Indiana."

"Mr. Sarsour has been serving as the elected President of the ISM (a volunteer position) for the past five years. Mr. Sarsour has been a legal resident of the Milwaukee community for over thirty-two years. He is married and, with his wife of 34 years, they have raised six children in the Milwaukee area. His wife and all of his children are U.S. citizens (Mr. Sarsour is a lawful permanent resident) and all of his children are college graduates and are gainfully employed. Four of Mr. Sarsour's children are married, and he has nine grandchildren. Mr. Sarsour has also been a caretaker of his elderly and frail mother.

"Throughout his years in the United States, Mr. Sarsour has been a successful businessman who employed many citizens and who has always been willing to help those in need. Mr. Sarsour has an exemplary record, with no charges or convictions of any kind. Mr. Sarsour is a shining model of what can only be seen as an American success story. Mr. Sarsour has been detained and is being threatened with deportation for only one reason: the U.S. government is carrying out its stated objective of prioritizing Israel, criminalizing advocacy for Palestine and targeting individuals who speak up against Israeli atrocities and condemn complicit officials in our government. Polls show that most Americans are opposed to supporting, funding and enabling the massive human rights abuses being committed by the genocidal Israeli regime.

"When Salah Sarsour was a teen (he was born in the Israeli occupied West Bank and lived his entire childhood under an inhumane military occupation) he was seized by the occupying Israeli forces and, as a minor, subjected to Israeli brutality and torture, and eventually tried and sentenced on fraudulent charges by an Israeli military "court". When Mr. Sarsour came to the United States in September 1993, the U.S. government was aware of his record. During subsequent interactions with immigration officials in the U.S., all were aware of the (false) accusations made by the Israeli military occupation forces. The fact that the present "Israel first" U.S. government has chosen to target Mr. Sarsour after thirtytwo years in the United States is unconscionable and illegal. Had Mr. Sarsour not been targeted by Israel and its agents, he would likely be receiving accolades for his accomplishments. We are calling on the U.S. government to immediately release Mr. Sarsour, to uphold the first amendment rights of citizens and residents of the U.S. to criticize a foreign regime, to uphold U.S. values of freedom, fairness and the rule of law, (particularly human rights laws) and to place the interests of the U.S. and U.S. citizens and residents over the interests of a foreign regime. 

"We will do everything in our power to make sure that Mr. Sarsour returns to his family and his community. We are seeking the support of all those who value the U.S. constitution and who are devoted to upholding the interests of the United States, and not the interests and agenda of another country."

"This is a man who came to the United States and kind of lived the American dream," Othman Atta, executive director of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, said in a press conference at the Islamic Society of Milwaukee. "And they are trying to tarnish his image. They’re trying to target him."

When Sarsour applied for a Green card (permanent residency) to live in the U.S., "The U.S. government fully vetted his visa application at that time," said Kathryn Brady, head of the Muslim Legal Fund of America’s Immigration Litigation Department during the press conference at the ISM.

The following groups, organizations and public elected officials are also requesting Sarsour's immediate release from USICE custody.

MLFA – Muslim Legal Fund of America

AMP – American Muslims for Palestine

USCMO – US Council of Muslim Organizations

CAIR – Council on American-Islamic Relations

MAS – Muslim American Society

Islamophobia Studies Center

Palestine Center for Public Policy

Islamophobia Studies Journal

Northern California Islamic Council

U.S. Congresswoman Gwen S. Moore (D-Milw, WI)

Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson (D-Milw)

Wisconsin State Representative Ryan Clancy (D-Milw)

Milwaukee Turners

Voces de la Frontera 

Milwaukee County Supervisors Jack Elkblad, Juan Miguel Martínez, Caroline Gómez-Tom and Justin Bielinski

City of Milwaukee Common Council members Ald. JoCasta Zamarripa and Ald. Alex Brower

Milwaukee Anti-war Committee

Francesca Hong for WI Governor 

David Crowley for WI Governor 

City of Milwaukee  Mayor Cavalier Johnson 

Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression 

Comité Sin Fronteras 

Mandela Barnes for WI Governor 

Jewish Voice for Peace - Milwaukee 

Freedom Road Socialist Organization - WI

Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee 

Arab and Women's Research and Resource Institute (AMWRRI) Milwaukee 

Muslim Women's Coalition 

Kelda Roys for WI Governor 

Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement 

Palestine Diaspora Movement 

Forward Latino

Wisconsin State Representative Priscilla Prado (D-Milw)

Milwaukee Area Labor Council

Citizen Action of Wisconsin 

A legal defense fund has been created for Salah Sarsour at link: https://www.launchgood.com/v4/campaign/salah_sarsour_justice_fund

MATC Administration And Board Of Trustees Including President Dr. Anthony Cruz Get An F-score Each For Failure To Enact Credible Reforms At The Technical College

Editorial: 

To date, both Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) President Dr. Anthony Cruz and the entire Board of Trustees continue to ignore multiple requests and friendly advisory calls from the communities of color to enact reforms, which could eventually restore the Office of Multicultural Student Services, fair employment practices, allow for part-time instructors to get full-time positions, and restore integrity and just hiring practices at the MATC Human Resources, which has been identified by employees as the epicenter of all problematic issues plaguing the MATC administration under Dr. Cruz and Laquitha Bonds-Jones, the Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer. (HNNUSA article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2024/12/african-american-network-requested-for.html)

Since May 2024, Dr. Cruz has failed to enact any credible reforms to deal with the unjust work practices (discrimination,  harassment, retaliation and etc. against employees) at MATC affecting employees and instructors of color including other White employees. (HNNUSA article link: http://hispanicnewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2026/03/matc-ignores-communities-of-color-needs.html)

Also, it definitely looks like the MATC Board of Trustees have followed in the foot steps of Dr. Cruz and have stood idle, and have not taken even one righteous step in the right direction to remedy Dr. Cruz's inept leadership to fix the internal chaotic administration, HR and employee crisis affecting the daily operations at MATC.

Dr. Cruz and the Board of Trustees have continued to ignore the communities of color concerns regarding the administration, HR and employees internal crisis that has raised allegations that employees and instructors have lost confidence (no confidence) in Dr. Cruz to continue as President.

One thing for sure, according to MATC, Dr. Cruz who earns a salary of more than $285,000 annually and has 30 years experience in education, most definitely lacks any negotiating skills to interact with communities of color. Dr. Cruz has ignored every opportunity that has come up to respond to the communities of color concerns regarding his decision to eliminate the Multicultural Student Services and replacing it with the Office of Community Impact, which eliminated most of the prior student services that the Office of Multicultural had offered to students of color.

Both Dr. Cruz and the Board of Trustees have also ignored to respond to the Multicultural Coalition to Reclaim MATC concerns regarding the elimination of the Office of Multicultural Student Services and terminating four student services specialists in late August 2025.

So far, the Multicultural Coalition to Reclaim MATC hasn't made any further concerns regarding Dr. Cruz, and recently haven't made any information public, regarding the Coalition's next step to hold Dr. Cruz and the Board of Trustees accountable.

Employees, instructors and others that are employed including members of the Multicultural Coalition and members of the communities of color have addressed the Board of Trustees at their monthly meetings, but the Board of Trustees continues to ignore their concerns and have failed to address public comment complaints.

In response, Hispanic News Network U.S.A. (HNNUSA) gives Dr. Cruz and the MATC Board of Trustees an F-score for their ongoing failure to address the communities of color concerns and their failure to restore the Office of Multicultural Student Services and bring about any meaningful reform to make MATC a better place to work.

Today, HNNUSA wouldn't recommend any student of color to attend MATC, also we wouldn't recommend anyone to apply for work at the technical college, until we actually see some credible reform that would create a good working environment at the technical college.

Posted on March 29, 2026

Hispanic News Network U.S.A. Editorial

60-year-old Leonel "Leo" Molina-Rios Pleaded Guilty To Homicide Use Of Vehicle With PAC In The Death Of James Charles Riegling, 74, In Franklin

Molina-Rios is facing up to 25 years in prison for the death of 74-year-old Jame Charles Riegling in Franklin while Molina-Rios was driving intoxicated, according to the criminal complaint.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 27, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On March 12, Leonel "Leo" Molina-Rios, 60, entered a plea of guilty to one felony count for homicide by use of vehicle with PAC (prohibited alcohol concentration) in the death of James Charles Riegling, 74, in Franklin. Under the plea agreement with prosecutors, several felony charges were dropped against Molina-Rios.

Molina-Rios is facing up to 25 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines, or both when he is sentenced on May 22, 2026.

According to the criminal complaint, Molina-Rios of Greenfield was initially charged in Milwaukee County for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and knownly operate a vehicle without a license causing the death of a 74-year-old male victim in a two vehicle crash on November 2, 2024 in Franklin.

Once undocumented Molina-Rios completes his sentence, he will be subject to be deported to Mexico.

Molina-Rios is well known in the Milwaukee Latino community for being a popular Spanish Speaking radio personality and a former member of the Wisconsin Brown Berets.

César E. Chávez Drive BID 38 Changed Name To Sixteen Street BID 38 In Milwaukee's Southside

After unprofound allegations were raised that the late leader César E. Chávez of the United Farm Workers union movement sexually abused women and young girls after 33 years of his death, the César E. Chávez Business Improvement District (BID) 38 changed its name to Sixteen Street BID 38 in the Southside of Milwaukee.

By H. Nelson Goodson 

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 27, 2026

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - On Friday, the César E. Chávez BID 38 changed its name to Sixteen Street BID 38, after allegations surfaced on March 18th that Chávez had sexually abused women and young girls. The $50,000 Chávez life-size bronze statue at the El Rey Supermercado at the 900 block of S. César E. Chávez Drive was removed days after the allegations were raised by Dolores Huerta, 95, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers union movement. Chávez was also the co-founder of the UFW labor union.

Chávez died in 1993 an innocent man with no criminal history of sexually assaulting women or young girls. The unprofound allegations of sexual abuse by Chávez surfaced after 33 years of his death and he is no longer alive to tell his side of the story.

The allegations of sexual abuse by Huerta  and several other women who say they were 12 and 13 when the sexual abuse occurred, but offered no actual proof or evidence when reported by the New York Times (NYT). The NYT reported that they uncovered evidence that Chávez did commit sexual abuse, but all that they uncovered were mere allegations raised in emails from the UFW and other sources going back ten years ago. Also, the NYT says they interviewed 60 people and Chávez relatives, but none of them actually witnessed the sexual assaults. 

To date, the NYT nor the alleged victims have provided any actual proof of the allegations other then Huerta admitting she had two children (girls) that César E.  Chávez fathered with her.

In addition, an allegation was also raised that Huerta had a third child with César which a DNA test proved he was the father, but apparently Huerta and Richard Chávez's brother raised. Huerta gave up the two daughters with César for other families to raise.

Huerta did admit that she had consensual sex with César and got pregnant, and then on a second occasion, she alleged César sexually assaulted her and became pregnant again.

César's statues, streets and schools named after him were taken down, and his legacy has been erased over mere allegations.

Compared to Trump, the U.S. President who has had a history of alleged accusations of sexual assaults of women and young girls as young as 13. Which the Epstein files documented the allegations and investigations by the FBI against Trump.

Now, the U.S. Treasury wants coins and $100 bills to have his photo and signature, despite being accused of being a known pedophile, according to the Epstein files.

The U.S. has double standards, one for people of color, which are merely accused of sexually abusing women and young girls, and their legacy is erased, and a second for Whites who are allegedly accused as pedophiles, which their legacy stays intact while in office.

Evidence today shows, that Make Amerikkka Great Again (MAGA) and Republicans do protect their own alleged White pedophiles.

Wisconsin State Democrat Representative Sylvia N. Ortiz-Velez Booking Photo Released By The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

Wisconsin State Democrat Representative Sylvia N. Ortiz-Velez Booking Photo Released By The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

WI: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office released the criminal booking photo of Wisconsin State Representative Sylvia N. Ortiz-Velez, 48, (D-Milw) who pled "No Contest" on March 13, 2026 to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and fined $300.00 over allegations threatening to expose Wisconsin State Representative Priscilla Prado, 42, (D-MILW) alleged inappropriate sexual behavior and drunkenness at multiple Democrat gatherings in 2024 to a local reporter in Wisconsin, according to Milwaukee County court records and the Ortiz-Velez defense attorney's statements about Prado's and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office accusations of Ortiz-Velez during the court hearing on Match 13, 2026.

Full HNNUSA article: https://tinyurl.com/2ux488yd

Posted on March 25, 2026

Source: Hispanic News Network U.S.A.